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5 great rides for two wheelers

5 great rides for two wheelers

Have you been out riding recently, feeling the connection and camaraderie you can only feel on your two-wheeler?

If so and you fancy doing more, here are our top picks for great rides across Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales, offering the best sights, history and local culture.

Before you put the helmet on, make sure your bike’s up to speed with the safety standards and regulations of your state.

Bonang Road, VIC and NSW

161km: Orbost (Vic) to Bombala (NSW)

From the coastal town of Orbost in Victoria to Bombala, a quiet town that sits within the border of New South Wales in the Monaro region, this road is a must-visit for any biker worth their salt.

The highway is mostly asphalt, but it involves some semi-paved stretches - the stretch just short of Delegate is gravel, albeit well-maintained.

The road is high on adrenaline-pumping twisties and limited traffic makes this road the stuff of die-hard bikers’ dreams.

Depending on what floats your boat, there is rich history in the Monaro region, cheap (but awesome) pubbing as well as intermittent hills and countryside views along this road.

Gillies Highway, QLD

60km: Gordonvale to Atherton

In the grand landscape of Northern Queensland, there are many roads to Cairns but the Gillies Highway tops them all for biking enthusiasts.

Starting at Atherton Tabletop with a continuous descent through to Gordonvale, the Gillies Highway is picturesque, challenging and also World Heritage listed.

It was first built as a one lane path into the valley over ninety years ago.

Over the years, work on the highway has improved it to a good standard.

The Gillies Ranges are known for housing over 250 bends with changing elevation in a stretch of a mere 19 kilometers - absolute bucket-list material.

The weather also keeps changing along the way; rain brings in gorgeous views of cascading water but pesky slippery slopes and leaves too.

But if all that doesn’t test a motorcyclist’s skills, it would be anybody’s guess what will.

The Lions Road, QLD

50km: Rathdowney to Summerland Way

Named for the Lions Club, this road stretches over 50km of rainforest and mountain terrain between Rathdowney and Summerland Way, cutting the Queensland and New South Wales border along the way.

This road makes the list for the all that it offers in terms of experience, views and history.

Back in 1969 when the NSW government refused to build a road that would connect the two states from Kyogle, the local Lions Clubs (Kyogle and Beaudesert) took the matter in their own hands and paved the way, so to speak, for the gravel road on their own.

A point to note is that the Lions Road is popular with cars and four-wheel drives as well, for its many lookouts and points of interest, including the Spiral Loop rail track, parks including Andrew Drynan Park and Mount Chinghee National Park, and the many picnicking and swimming areas.

The Lions Road is closed at the moment for upgrades which will see the wooden bridges replaced by concrete structures, under the government’s bridge renewal program.

It’s due to open up again in a couple of months.

Oxley Highway, NSW

212km: Wauchope (Port Macquarie) to Bendemeer

Rated as one of the best rides in Australia, the Oxley Highway is a holistic experience.

With over three hundred corners challenging the bike (and biker!) and limited four-wheel traffic, the Oxley is sheer riding pleasure.

Many bikers recommend getting onto the highway from the eastern entry up at Port Macquarie.

Well-maintained and spaced out, the highway is geared towards motorcyclists - 45km of twisties! - with the right cafes and coffee, pubs, moderately-stocked fuel spots and huge numbers of fellow bikers and ride aficionados.

The road opens up the further west you ride, displaying the charming countryside and farmland lifestyle of neighbouring towns.

Walcha serves an alternative destination spot.

Thunderbolts Way, NSW

146km: Walcha to Gloucester

If you’ve hit Walcha from the Oxley, the Thunderbolts Way should be next on your list, even though some seasoned bikers root for the south to north route.

With gorgeous scenery and open roads, the Thunderbolts Way is as picturesque as they get.

The road is accustomed to motorcyclists so it's mostly well-maintained, with some sections going through wear-and-tear as well as upgrades.

Straight the road might be but the dips and rises prove to be a delight to the biker.